So a week ago yesterday i was fly fishing the lower vedder with a bud. I wrote up a quick report as i caught a salmon smolt and a sturdy 12-14" bow...scrappy little guy and both were realized fast and in the water....
So, I'm gabbing to the guys at Reaction and the angel at M&J and they told me the bow's are resident to the Vedder and most likely steelhead smolts...If this is true how the heck can you tell??? I saw no difference between it and a normal bow with the exception of bigger shoulders you'd expect on a river fish....
On the one hand it's a blast to catch them but on the other I don't want to be harming any steelies that I might have the chance of never catching on the fly during the winter run
Good question Golfman, and one currently being asked and explored by many.
While most 'rainbow smolts' heading to the ocean will have left by now, Im certain that a percentage remain behind and may leave later in the season or even next year as sometimes they will stay in the system an extra year. Others will never leave and become residents.
You cant tell the difference just by looking at them, unless they are much older and obviously been residents that is.
Were they wild or hatchery out of curiosity?
My thought on it is to leave them be best as possible and let them do what they will if we want to see as many steelhead return. A concern is that these smolts will remain behind and provide competition in the river etc and that is why they have an opening for them. My thought is that it doesnt matter. The river has a carrying capacity. If there's room, they'll stay and not hurt/alter anything. If not enough 'room' they wont survive. It's not like these are introduced species to whom you cannot expect to fit in the ecological niche without damaging or altering it. Some will say since a large portion are from the hatchery they are close to introduced, but that is a debate for the yay or nay to hatcheries thread.